Alongwith the rest of the country, National Voters’ Day 2014 was also observed in all the District capitals of Mizoram. The Governor of Mizoram Shri Vakkom Purushothaman graced the function organized to mark the occasion which was held at Vanapa Hall in the state capital, Aizawl. The function was also graced by the Speaker of the Mizoram Legislative Assembly Shri Hiphei and senior officers of the state government.

Speaking on the occasion the Governor emphasized that elections are a device through which a modern State creates amongst its citizens a sense of involvement and participation in public affairs and said that it is through popular election that the authority of Government is clothed with legitimacy. He further said that a good electoral system is the bed­rock of genuine representative government and unless public elections are conducted with accuracy and efficiency, not only the public services are discredited but the whole democratic system is endangered.

The Governor congratulated the state election machinery for having successfully conducted elections to Mizoram Legislative Assembly recently, in a free and fair manner and said the recently concluded MLA election which recorded a voter turnout of 83.41% is the highest in the electoral history of Mizoram. He credited this feat to the active involvement of political parties, civil society organisations, media and the general public and hoped that public education being undertaken by the election machinery in conjunction with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders will be able to achieve a higher voter turnout in the up-coming Lok Sabha Election. He appealed to the civil society organizations and political parties to sensitize the people about the issues to help them make informed and ethical voting during elections.

He appealed to all the people of Mizoram to strive hard towards strengthening the democratic traditions by being involved in the electoral process, remembering that one of the most critical ways that individuals can influence government decision-making is through voting and also enjoined upon all eligible voters to have their names registered in the electoral roll, and to participate during the elections by exercising their franchise in an informed and ethical manner.

The Governor handed prizes to the three best Booth Level Officers(BLOs) of Aizawl District and to the representatives of the District administration that recorded the highest voter turnout during last year’s Assembly election. The three districts that recorded the highest voting percentage were – Mamit District, Lunglei District and Serchhip District respectively. He also handed Electors’ Photo Identity Card (EPIC) to 21 newly registered voters of Aizawl District.

Shri Ashwani Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer welcomed the gathering while Mizoram Peoples’ Forum Vice President and President of the Central YMA Shri Lalbiakzuala also spoke on the occasion; the function ended with a vote of thanks by the Joint CEO Shri H. Lalengmawia.